• BC Partners’ credit arm to acquire Runway Growth Capital as a long-term, strategic investment, complementing BC’s existing platform across private lending, opportunistic credit and specialty finance
• Runway Growth Capital will continue to operate independently and serve as the external investment adviser to Runway Growth Finance, a publicly traded business development company, with the current leadership and investment teams remaining in place
• Transaction will expand origination channels, enhance investment solutions, and accelerate capital formation and fundraising capabilities as Runway Growth Capital seeks to strengthen the venture ecosystem

Runway Growth Capital LLC (“Runway”), a leading provider of growth loans to both venture and non-venture-backed companies seeking an alternative to raising equity, and BC Partners Credit, the $8 billion credit arm of BC Partners, an approximately $40 billion AUM alternative investment firm, today announced a definitive agreement whereby BC Partners Credit will acquire Runway.

Following the closing of the transaction, Runway will remain the investment adviser to investment funds, including Runway Growth Finance Corp. (Nasdaq: RWAY) (“Runway Growth Finance”), a business development company, and other private funds. Runway’s current management team and investment personnel are expected to continue to serve as officers and senior management. Runway Growth Finance will be well positioned to capitalize on a broader range of investment and value creation opportunities with access to BC Partners’ origination capabilities and expansive platform.

Runway Founder and Chief Executive Officer David Spreng commented, “This transaction is expected to deliver increased value for both investors and borrowers in the near- and long-term as we join the BC Partners Credit platform. Our strategic partnership positions Runway to accelerate originations within our ideal investment range of $30-150 million and expand our offerings to both target companies and sponsors. The combination will enhance our capabilities by introducing structured equity preferred investments, asset-based lending, and the ability to operate in new strategies such as equipment leasing, while strengthening our sponsor relationships through fund finance and other fund-level offerings. By combining BC Partners’ resources and scale with our network, expertise and differentiated presence in the market, we believe Runway will deliver more comprehensive financing solutions for a wider range of companies. Moving forward, we expect that our investors will benefit from increased exposure and access to a greater number of investment opportunities, additional diversification and the potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns.”

Ted Goldthorpe, Head of BC Partners Credit, said, “David and the team at Runway have built one of the most well-respected platforms across growth and venture lending. Their solutions are sought after by fast growing companies, and we look forward to building on their momentum. As a virtue of being part of the BC Partners Credit platform, we see many compelling opportunities for Runway to generate additional origination activities, optimize its capital structure and create value for investors and borrowers. Likewise, the acquisition is quite strategic for BC Partners Credit, as we expand our offerings through a robust suite of financing solutions to all stakeholders. We will continue to accelerate our growth trajectory, establishing BC Partners Credit as a best-in-class, fully diversified credit manager, serving a multi-trillion-dollar market with strong tailwinds.”

Transaction Timing

The closing of the transaction, which is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2024, is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of a new investment advisory agreement with Runway, by Runway Growth Finance’s stockholders, the terms of which are expected to remain the same as the existing investment advisory agreement. The Runway Growth Finance Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders approve the new investment advisory agreement, under which Runway will continue in its capacity as the company’s investment adviser. Senior management of Runway Growth Capital LLC has agreed to vote their shares in favor of the transaction.

Advisors

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Runway Growth Capital LLC. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting as legal counsel to Runway Growth Capital LLC and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is acting as legal counsel to the independent directors of Runway Growth Finance. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as legal counsel to BC Partners.

About Runway Growth Capital LLC

Runway Growth Capital LLC is the investment adviser to investment funds, including Runway Growth Finance Corp. (Nasdaq: RWAY), a business development company, and other private funds, which are lenders of growth capital to companies seeking an alternative to raising equity. Led by industry veteran David Spreng, these funds provide senior term loans of a target of $30 million to $150 million to fast-growing companies based in the United States and Canada. For more information on Runway Growth Capital LLC and its platform, please visit www.runwaygrowth.com.

About Runway Growth Finance Corp.

Runway Growth Finance is a growing specialty finance company focused on providing flexible capital solutions to late- and growth-stage companies seeking an alternative to raising equity. Runway Growth Finance is a closed-end investment fund that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Runway Growth Finance is externally managed by Runway Growth Capital LLC, an established registered investment adviser that was formed in 2015 and led by industry veteran David Spreng. For more information, please visit www.runwaygrowth.com.

About BC Partners & BC Partners Credit

BC Partners is a leading international investment firm in private equity, private debt, and real estate strategies. BC Partners Credit was launched in February 2017, with a focus on identifying attractive credit opportunities in any market environment, often in complex market segments. The platform leverages the broader firm’s deep industry and operating resources to provide flexible financing solutions to middle-market companies across Business Services, Industrials, Healthcare and other select sectors. For further information, visit www.bcpartners.com/credit-strategy.

Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR), a leading investment bank, and BC Partners Credit, the $8 billion credit arm of international investment firm BC Partners, today announced a strategic alliance. The alliance, which leverages the expertise and broad networks of Piper Sandler’s Financial Services Debt Capital Markets team and BC Partners Credit, paves the way for Piper Sandler’s clients across the financial services sector to best access the debt capital markets with customized structures and financing solutions as they grow their businesses. The firms anticipate additional institutional investors will join the alliance over time to further complement and support future growth across sectors.

Over the past decade, the Piper Sandler Financial Services Debt Capital Markets team has developed a specialized niche in managing debt transactions for regional and community banks, as well as non-bank specialty finance companies across the entire financial sector, executing more than 550 transactions and generating nearly $40 billion in gross proceeds. Leveraging its strong investment banking relationships, Piper Sandler expects to continue sourcing new debt mandates, ensuring a robust pipeline of opportunities, to provide bank and non-bank clients with a full suite of balance sheet, capital and funding solutions. While continuing traditional syndicated debt offerings in public and private markets, the strategic alliance with BC Partners Credit presents a supplementary avenue for growth and innovation in balance sheet solutions.

“Since the Federal Reserve’s historic rate-hiking campaign and the multiple bank failures in the spring of 2023, it has become significantly more challenging for small-cap, mid-cap, and privately-owned banks, as well as non-bank financial companies, to execute debt capital market financings,” said Jacques de Saint Phalle, Head of Piper Sandler Financial Services Debt Capital Markets. “BC Partners Credit’s substantial capital base and extensive distribution networks will significantly bolster our market-leading transactional distribution platform.”

BC Partners Credit is a fully diversified credit manager with a track record of providing bespoke capital solutions to companies across a range of industries, including banks, specialty finance companies, fintech platforms, insurers, and asset managers. In addition to providing capital, BC Partners Credit also has a dedicated team focused on managing the assets of insurance and re-insurance companies.

“We are excited to collaborate with Piper Sandler, offering their clients a comprehensive suite of financial solutions that can help propel their businesses” said Ted Goldthorpe, Head of BC Partners Credit. “As a fully diversified credit manager, with deep pools of capital and a vast network, we are well positioned to provide anchor demand, driving optimal structure and pricing. Likewise, our limited partners will have access to many compelling investment opportunities across the capital structure, with strong projected returns.”

Supporting this partnership will be Sam Reinhart, a newly appointed Managing Director and Head of FIG Solutions at BC Partners Credit. Reinhart previously served as Head of Banks and Diversified Financials at UBS Group AG and began his career working with Jacques de Saint Phalle. Mr. Reinhart said, “I’m excited to once again partner with Jacques and the Piper Sandler team to deliver efficient and innovative capital solutions to their exceptional financial services client base.”

ABOUT PIPER SANDLER Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR) is a leading investment bank driven to help clients Realize the Power of Partnership®. Securities brokerage and investment banking services are offered in the U.S. through Piper Sandler & Co., member SIPC and NYSE; in the U.K. through Piper Sandler Ltd., authorized and regulated by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority; in the EU through Aviditi Capital Advisors Europe GmbH, a tied agent of AHP Capital Management GmbH, authorized and regulated by BaFin; and in Hong Kong through Piper Sandler Hong Kong Limited, authorized and regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission. Alternative asset management and fixed income advisory services are offered through separately registered advisory affiliates.

Follow Piper Sandler: LinkedIn | Facebook | X

ABOUT BC PARTNERS AND BC PARTNERS CREDIT BC Partners is a leading international investment firm in private equity, private debt, and real estate strategies. BC Partners Credit was launched in February 2017, with a focus on identifying attractive credit opportunities in any market environment, often in complex market segments. The platform leverages the broader firm’s deep industry and operating resources to provide flexible financing solutions to middle-market companies across Financial Services, Business Services, Industrials, Healthcare and other select sectors. For further information, visit www.bcpartners.com/credit-strategy.

BC Partners Leads Strategic Capital Solution to Facilitate Expansion

Princeton Medspa Partners (“PMP” or the “Company”), one of the leading national medspa acquisition platforms in the high-growth, highly fragmented, approximately $30 billion U.S. medical aesthetics market, is pleased to announce the closing of $120 million of committed financing. BC Partners, a leading alternative assets investor with approximately $40 billion of assets under management, provided the growth capital to refinance the Company’s existing credit facility and fund near-term acquisitions.

PMP owns and operates 10 injectables-focused medspa clinics located in attractive suburban markets. Since 2022, the Company has built a scaled platform leveraging its reputation as the “Partner of Choice” for provider-owned practices. PMP is led by its team of experienced operators, who have successfully built multiple consumer and healthcare services businesses – adding over 400+ units in less than 5 years, combined. The Company has significant runway to acquire market-leading suburban clinics and help providers better operate and grow their practices. PMP was founded by Jim Waskovich, who is also the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Princeton Equity Group, a leading private equity firm with substantial experience in high-growth, multi-site companies.

“We are excited to partner with PMP and Princeton Equity Group, given their impressive track record growing the Company to where it is today. We believe the new capital will further elevate the business to achieve its strategic goals.” said Ted Goldthorpe, Partner at BC Partners Credit.

“BC has brought a unique offering through its ability to offer a turn-key capital solution that addressed our needs. We are thrilled to partner with BC and unlock the next phase of growth for PMP,” said Jim Waskovich, Founder and Managing Partner of Princeton Equity Group.

Princeton Medspa Partners was advised by Piper Sandler & Co. and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. BC Partners was represented by McDermott Will & Emery LLP.